Over the past couple of weeks, various websites have published rumors describing Project Cafe's controller as having a six-inch touch screen, as well as the ability to work in tandem with the console to stream content, allowing users to play games without having to look at a television.

Turns out, these rumors may include a hefty dose of truth, if you believe a recently published Nintendo patent. According to the document, the controller can connect to multiple consoles and send/receive data.

One of those child devices could be a 3DS.

In theory, this would solve the issue of not being to sign in with your own profile while at a friend's house. Instead, you'd bring the Project Cafe controller (with your personal data already stored within a cartridge/built in memory) and watch as it forms a wireless link to your buddy's machine, instantly transferring your info to a game of Mario Kart or F-Zero. Definitely useful, if true.

So where does 3DS come in? First, as a streaming device. Keep in mind that users can already do this through Sony's PSP via remote play, a feature that lets them experience PlayStation 3 content on the handheld. The console game Lair, for example, is fully playable on PSP via remote play.

A 3DS could work in similar fashion, as Project Cafe streams content to the system. We could also see it functioning as a controller for select games, in case you're short on Project Cafe control pads. The circle pad can double as an analog stick, making games like the aforementioned Mario Kart and F-Zero playable. You could even play a first person shooter by combining the circle pad with the touch screen and stylus, similar to the control scheme from the DS hit, Metroid Prime Hunters.

Instead of buying multiple Project Cafe controllers, you could use your 3DS.

Of course, this is pure speculation, and we'll find out more during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (June 7-9), particularly at Nintendo's press conference.

That said, we expect Project Cafe to communicate with 3DS in some fashion, and using it as a controller would help make the glasses free device even more appealing. Expect more details in the coming months.